Bootleg Betty
The Top 10 Songs Bette Midler Has Performed The Most
By Mister D
Feb. 28, 2026
The top 10 songs Bette Midler has sung (performed live) the most, based on aggregated setlist statistics from setlist.fm (which tracks reported concerts across her career), are as follows. These reflect frequency in documented live performances:
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (The Andrews Sisters cover) – 171 times
A staple from her early career and debut album, often a high-energy highlight. - The Rose – 165 times
Her iconic 1979 hit from the film of the same name, a consistent closer or emotional centerpiece. - Do You Wanna Dance? (or Do You Want to Dance?) – 162 times
(Tied closely) Her breakout slow ballad cover from 1972, a fan favorite since the start. - The Wind Beneath My Wings (or Wind Beneath My Wings) – 162 times
(Tied) Her massive 1989 #1 ballad from Beaches, frequently performed in later tours and specials. - From a Distance – 156 times
The 1990 inspirational hit, another power ballad she returns to often.
From additional sources and setlist overviews, the next most frequently mentioned/played classics include:
- I Think It’s Going to Rain Today (Randy Newman cover)
A recurring early-career and tour staple. - Friends (Buzzy Linhart cover)
One of her signature early songs from bathhouse days onward. - Stay With Me (often in medleys or as a torch song)
A dramatic performance piece she’s done repeatedly. - Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael cover)
Featured prominently in tours like Kiss My Brass. - Hello in There (John Prine cover)
An emotional deep cut that’s appeared in many sets over decades.
These numbers come primarily from setlist.fm’s overall artist stats (covering hundreds of reported shows), where “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” leads as her most-performed number. Her live repertoire often mixes these classics with covers, medleys, and newer material depending on the era/tour (e.g., early 1970s bathhouse sets vs. later Vegas/Broadway runs). Signature songs like “The Rose” and “Wind Beneath My Wings” are near-constants in major performances due to their cultural impact, even if raw counts favor her longer-running early hits.
